Earth-boring machine



May'26, 1953 Gf. H. JONES 2,639,892

Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED STAT-ES 2,639,892 PATENT @FFI-CE EARTH-BORING MACHINE Glen AH. Jones, Minneapolis, Minn.

ApplicationJune 5, 1946, Serial No. `674,514

24 Claims.

Mypresent invention relates to improvements inJearth-boring machines, and more particularly toqportable power-driven machines of this char acter that are adapted for drilling holes for receiving posts, poles, and the like; an important object of the invention .being the provision of an improved boring mechanism that'is adapted to be mounted on and carried by a suitable vehicle, such as a farm tractor,A truck or trailer, and driven,.preferably,fby thepower .plant of thetraction "vehicle through ra suitable take-off shaft.

.Another important object Vof the invention vis the provision of ain-.improved meansfor mounting vthe boring mechanism on and driving thesame from 4`the tractor oranalogous vehicle'in such a manner that the 'boring mechanism will pass freely A.over obstructions without injury thereto.

.Another importantob-ject of the invention is the provision of improved means for leveling the boring'mechanism whereby when theftractor is standing 'on a slope lor on uneven ,ground :the auger-of '.the 'boring mechanism may .be adjusted .to assume a .plumb .position or, when required, the auger may be vadjusted :to bore a hole at an angle to the vertical.

Another important object of 'the invention .is theprovision olf animproved earth-boring mechanism wherein .fthe power-driven auger, upon reaching a predetermined depth, will .be automatically power-retracted from the'hole bored thereby and reset in startinggpositionfor the next vdrilling operation. In the preferredembodiment of the invention herein illustrated, the depth o' 'the bore is variable and is controlled `by pre- Aadjusted stops, and mechanism is also provided under manual control of the operator whereby thehoring operation mayfbe interruptedand the 4auger` retracted at any time during the drilling operation, ywhereby tominimize damage yto the auger in case lit engages a serious obstruction,

suchas a rock or the like.

Still-another object of tlrieinvention is the provisionof improvedmeans under manual contro-l of the operato-roi/herehy downw-afrdimovements of the auger maybe interrupted for retarded 4at lany time during tthe Yboring poperationindependent/ly of rotary movements-of the auger.

Still another object vofthe inventionis thefprovision olf fmanually Areleasahle means for automatically locking the augerin its'retracted-inoperative ,positioni independently of thelifting or retracting mechanism.

'A still further object'of theinvention is lthe 'provision lof means vfor stabilizing lthe boring mechanism againstlaterall wobbling movements duringl the drilling. operation.

The above vand other "highly :important objects and advantages' ofpthe invention willhe'irnade apparent from the `following specification., claims, and appendeddrawings.

lIn Vthe drawings,'like characters indicate like parts throughout the several Views.

.Referring ,to the` drawings:

AFig. lisa viewin .side elevation, `with some f 2 parts broken vaway andsome parts-shown in section, showing a vpreferred `embodiment of earthboring mech-anismbuilt in accordance with the instant. invention mounted onl a conventional farm tracto-r;

Fig. 2 is affragmentary view correspondingtov Fig. l, Abut'showing somewhat different positions oi the parts of :the-drilling or boring mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a.' view in rear elevation on lari-enlarged scale of the boring .mechanism of Fig. 1, and` showing theparts'thereof .in their fully retracted unper'positions;

Fig. sfis a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing theauger and certain associated parts in their extreme lower positions;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View .taken on the line 5-'5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an. enlarged sectional view takenon theline (5 6 of Fig..3;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged-fragmentary View infront elevation taken on thevertical line .l--l of 1.;V

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the horizontal line--S of Fig. '3;

Fig. '9 is an enlarged vtransverse vsectional view taken on thehorizontal line 9-9of Fig. 3;

Fig. lo is an enlarged transversesectionalyiew taken on the horizontal line l0-l0fof Fig. l3j

Fig. ll isan enlarged fragmentary -detailviewtaken on the'horizontal line Il-Il of Fig. 3;

Fig. A12 'is a, fragmentary detail view takenion the line-l2-l2 of'Figpll;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail sectional view takenon thevline I3--l3 of Figo;

Fig. i4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail :view takenon the horizontal-line 14ml ll of Fig. l; and

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail sectional View, with some parts broken away and some parts shown in section, taken on Athe vertical line .I5-l5 .of Fig. l.

The tractor illustrated in the drawings hereof. and lwhichis indicated as an entirety by Ifisof a well-known commercially available make, .and

comprises mainly a power-plant inthe natureof an internal combustion engine 2, pneumatic tireequipped front steering wheels Ii, pneumatic ftre-` equipped rear driving wheels 4, rear axle shafts 5, rear axle housing sections ii extending in op-v posite directions from a gear case 1, a platform -S mounted on and extending rearwardlyfromthe prises a rectangular gear case or box l2 and a depending auger shaft Eli equipped with aspiral auger lll. The lower end ofthe auger shaft 313 is tapered to a point and spirally threaded .to

I5 that depends from and is, in turn, journalledl in bearing bosses I1 and I8 on the lower and upper portions respectively of the gear case orvv box I2. The shaft I8 is journalled in the tubular auger shaft I3 through the medium of `an interposed bearing sleeve I9 anchored to the tubular auger shaft I3 by cap screws or the like 20. 'I'he lower end of the power shaft I6 is equipped with a ,thrust bearing 2l that is clamped between the lower end ofthe bearing sleeve I9 and an auger shaft shoulder 22 to retain the auger shaft against axial movements on the power shaft IG.

The gear case or boX I 2 of the boring head contains an intermeshing pair of bevelled gears 23 and24 respectively, the former of which is mounted on the power shaft I6 and the latter of which is mounted fast on a stub shaft 25 journalled in and projecting through a bearing boss 25 of the gear case I2. The shaft I5 of the boring head is driven from the power take-off shaft 9 of the tractor through power transmission connections comprising a universal joint 21, a longitudinally extensible and contractible drive shaft made up of telescopically engaged cross sectionally rectangular sections 28 and 29, a universal joint 30, and said stub shaft 25 and bevelled gears 24 and 23 respectively.

y Mounted fast on shaft i6 immediately below the hubv I1 (see Fig. 6) is a thrust bearing sleeve 32' having a shoulder 32' spaced from the hub I1. This sleeve 32 cooperates with the gear case hub I1 andthe hub of gear 23 to lock shaft 4S against axial movements. Journalled on the sleeve 32 between shoulder 32 and hub I1 is a cable winding drum 3| forming' part of the boring head retracting or elevating mechanism hereinafter to be more fully described.

For selectively driving either the` auger shaft I3 or the winding drum 3| from the power shaft I5,VI provide a dog clutch comprising a clutch element 33 slidably mounted on the shaft I5 intermediate the tubular auger shaft I3 and the hub of winding drum 3l. This sliding clutch element 33 is spline keyed to the shaft I6 as shown best in Figs. 6 and 9, and the upper end of said clutch element 33 is provided with circumferentially spaced clutch dogs or teeth 34 for intermeshing driving engagement with circumferentially spaced clutch teeth or dogs 35 formed on the lower end of the hub of winding drum 3|, and the lower end of the sliding clutch element 33 is provided with circumferentially spaced clutch dogs or teeth 3S for intermeshing `driving engagement with a similar series of teeth or dogs 31 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 6) on the upper end of the tubular auger shaft I3. With this arrangement, it will be clear that when the sliding clutch element 33 is moved to its upper position as shown in Fig. 4, the'winding drum 3l will be in driving engagement with the power shaft I3 and the auger shaft I3 will be free on the shaft I5; and it will also be clear that when the sliding clutc-h element 33 is shifted to its lower position as shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 7, the winding drum 3i will be free of the shaft I6 while the auger shaft I3 will be operatively coupled to the shaft I'. The mechanism for shifting the sliding clutch element 33 will later be described.

The gear case I2 of the boring head is rigidly mounted between a laterally spaced pair of guide sleeves 38 and 39, which form part of the boring head and are, in turn, telescopically applied to yand slidable on opposite parallel guide legs 4i] and 4I respectively of an inverted U-shaped frame element. This inverted U-shaped frame element is mounted on and supported from the vtractor by a supporting structure comprising laterally spaced rearwardly extended cantilever bars 42 and diagonal braces 43. The cantilever bars l-42 are rigidly connected one to leg 49 and the other to leg 4I of the inverted U-shaped frame `near the bottoms thereof, and said cantilever bars 42 are intermediately pivoted to the tractor lplatform 8 at 44, as best shownv in Fig. 14. By

reference particularly `tc Fig. 14, it will be noted that the pivotal connections between the cantilever bars 42 'and platform structure il are accomplished by cantilever bar-carried stud bolts working through opposite end flanges of ananchoring bracket 45 that is anchored to the' platform 8 by bolts or the like 46. Also by reference to Fig. 14, it will be seen that the said pivot stud bolts project from and are carried directly by mounting sleeves 41 that are adjustably slidabh7 mounted on opposite cantilever bars 42 and are locked in desired positions on said bars 42 by set screws or the like 48. The inner end portions of the cantilever bars 42 are equipped 'with segmental saddles 49 that engage the under surfaces of opposite rear axle housing sections E and thereby retain the cantilever bars l2 against counterclockwise pivotal movements in respect lto Figs. vl and 2, but which permit free clockwise pivotal movements of said cantilever bars 42 rin respect to said Figs. l and 2. Mounting of the saddles 49 on the inner end portions of cantilever bars 42 is accomplished through the medium of depending anchoring flanges 5@ on the saddles 49, mounting sleeves5l adjustably slidably mounted on the cantilever bars 42 and held in adjusted position by set screws 52, depending anchoring flanges 53 on said mounting sleeves 5I, and nutequipped bolts 54 passing through the flanges 53 and 50. By reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the flanges 5&1 are provided with a spaced series of holes for optional reception of the anchoring boltsv54 to permit adjustment of the cantilever bars to accommodate the mounting structure to different tractors. The upper ends of the diagonal braces 43 are rigidly connected to the upper intermediate portion of the inverted U-shaped frame at 55, and the lower ends of said diagonal braces 43 are each pivotally connected at 56 to an opposite cantilever bar 42 through the medium of flange-equipped anchoring sleeves 51 that are slidably adjustably mounted on opposite cantilever bars 42, and which are normally locked in position by suitable set screws 5E.

The mechanism for automatically lifting or elevating the boring head comprises the power shaft I6 of the boring head, the slidable clutch element 33, the winding drum 3|, and a flexible cable 59 running over a pulley wheel 6G and a pulley wheel 6I. The opposite flanges of the winding drum 3| are spaced to snugly receive the cable 59, one end of which is anchored to the radially inner portion of the winding drum by being projected downwardly through a hole in the lower flange of the drum and knotted therebelow, as shown at 59 in Fig. 7. The cable 59 thus Winds spirally upon itself. The other end of the cable 59 extends through an anchoring flange 62 on the guide sleeve 39 of the boring head, and is provided below said anchoring flange 62 with a yielding anchor comprising a washer 63 and a coil compression spring 64. The pulley wheel or sheave 60 is pivotally mounted on the guide sleeve 38 of the boring head at 35, and the pulley wheel of the sheave 6I is pivotally anchored to the intermediate upper portion of the inverted ,U- shaped 4:guide iframe :,:at e166 throughthe mediumsoffa'. bracket 6 1,zseepartcularlyEgS. 3fandq4.

The amechanism, :herein .illustratedy :for Tautomatically jout manually freleasably locking lith-e boring zhead :in :its extreme "upper :or retracted inoperative :position independently :of l:the liftirir or 1, elevating :mechanism rcomprises za ilatch ba-r 68 having a detent 58 mand .fleeing pivoted sto theyguide-sleevei at 69, a-,cooperating-1'latch 'dog in the natu-re: of a pin 10, a.; coil tension spring 1| yieldingly biasingthe latch bar-68 inthe idirection -zof v4thepin 'I 0, vand a latch-tripping -.Cam 12. .The latch pin 1,0 is :welded .or otherwise rigidlysecured to thegguide'legffll|,faslfshown best at-'|3in Figs. 14 and y7. The'gfree-.upper endaofethe latchibar 6.8- isl bevelled to` prov-ide; a cam-surface which, lunder upward movements of fthe flatch bar 68 Ewithl thenboring head, will engage the-,pin

10 withatcamming action that'willfdeiiect the Upperendof the latch barfbv againstthe'yieldingaction offspring amiguidethelatch` detent 58-I into operative engagement -with -the V,pin 10. The cam .'12 serves .both fas la trip ,for :the latch bar .68 and -as VAa ,-stop therefor, and `4is,l mounted fast `,oni'onelencl ofa rock lshaft 'Hl that @projects :through and is j ournalled in bearing,` brackets 'l5 of-vguide-sleeve :39,esee lpartie ulafrly Figs. 7 and,8. The rock. shaft $1.4 y is ,a'dapted;,to:bet cperatedmanuallyto,turnthe cam -l.2.and trip the latch by operating connections comprising. af universa] joint 1I5 land fa Alongitudinally .extensible and contractilolek Operatingshat madelupgof telescoping rectangularsections .16 and l1 :respectively. The telescoping` .shaft section "VL is `journallecl in a bearing bracket f'|8on one-ofthe diag- Onal bracesfllS and -is y ,outwardly .turned below saidbear-ingbracketto,providean:.operatinghandlel19ilocatedfwithin convenient reachfoiean operator positioned onthe tractor tseat ,.I.

Also.- mounted, on the rock shaft :14 .is arbrake camj80 (see particularly Figs. 8,-.l1, and 12)?and a bell crank ,8 shown best in Figs. `.6, 8, y,and ill. Braking cam 80 is locatedfadjacentthe alegx 4 Lof the guide frame and works through a :slotifor notch80' '(see.Fig. ,l2) in theguicle sleevefS ,of thepboringj head. .The l brake rcam i 80 i is normally spaced "from the vrguide post or ,leg .4 l, as-shown best in Figs. 1,11 .and .12, and yis adapted nto .:be brought intojfrictonal engagement ,with the'guide post or'l leg "4 I by r otaticn. of -thelmckshatJAxin a counterclockwise direction with respect vto 7 andina clockwise directoniwith respectfto Fig. 1'2, ibut is so orientated on .the frockashaft 'I4 that it y will inot l,come ,into friction-al abraking contact with theguideleg "4| until theflatchgbar GB'ha-s been tripped andireleased,fromtthe-pinx'l bythecam 'T2 as ``aresult of rock shaft ,movevment in the same direction as isrequiredto apply the brake.

The mechanism for operating the sliding clutch element 33, whereby to alternatelylcouple ,the auger shaft `I3 and Vwin'dir1g..'drum;3| .to `=the power shaft |6, comprises ashiftercollarz having diametrically opposeds'hifter ,pins 83 w,workiing in a peripheral ,channellin theslidingclutch element '33, and which Ashifter,collarf isiorrned bythe intermediate portion cfa-shifter leveri'd. One end of the shifter lever184lispvotedtota bearing bracket .`8 5 on the guide sleeve lat-Lilli, andthe other or "free end vof thes'hiftenlevenll eXtendsbeyond'the vguide sleeve"`39 and is,pro' vided therebeyond with a laterally oiset end '8T for cooperation withupper andlower stops 88 and respectively, 5seen particularly lFigs.` 3,15, 'l and 5,10. iThe :stop 88 lis vertically adjustabl'fy `rnountediinsa stop daracket19ILrigidf-,on and Pro-` jecting from the uppenintermediate portion go'f theggude leg 114 I and thefstop 8-9 is frigidlygcarriedby1anelongatedlangle bracket 9| fast on and V`projecting "from the lower portion yoi -the guide post or -leg '4 I -in vertical alignment with the guide legf39. YBysreferenceftothedrawings, itf-Will 4ine seen that ytheguide sleeve ...3f9 is longitudnallyfslotte'd fat :92 :to receive :the brackets 90 land 59|, which brackets may .be assumed to be v'welded to the iguide V`post or leg 4 yand by particular reference to Figs. y3 and .4, vit will :be seen thattheelongated bracket 9| is -fprovided with ra longitudinally ,spaced series of holes vi3 for :optional reception of the Vthreaded nutequipped-` end '94 of stop `89 A see ,particularly .Figs. 3,4 and lof .1ower;stop'89. Alsofby reference to the drawings, ,it-will fbe seen that theouterend fof one .of ,the canti-levers 42 :is :anchored to the lower gend .portion of -;guide leg 4| through the medium ofthefelongated bracket l., and bolt 9,5, .and thatithe Aoutersend off the other cantilever barv`42 is anchored `,to thelower endportion ,of guide legor postlll through the medium of an elongated bracket :96, similar tto bracket 91, 'rby a;bolt.9 1. `By-still furtherzreferenceto thedrawings,y and .particularly Ito '.fFig. V9 thereof, it Twill be1 seenthat the. guide :sleeve 38, is llongitudinally slottediat ,198 to `receivethe. bracketi B.

vThe elongated ybrackets :9| .and :96, each foi which ris welded fast von .its respective .-ileg 44|) or il i proj ect s below the Jbottom of 1 their yrespective legs,y and are f eachfequipped Twith a .shoeiility and which shoe ,9 9 is :normally spaced :above the ground .but lis adaptedtoengage irregulartesin the ,ground or-obstructions `whereby ,to l.tilt j.the cantilever bars '42 and parts lcarried therebyron the i axes 'of pivot f,bolts JM to thereby -clear I:the obstruction y,or irregularity, see `:particularly 'fiull lineswini'igs. Zandle. ,In-this-re'spect, it'willbe noted athatithe cantilever ...bars .normally extend in a -substarltially horizontal plane, zas i shown in Fig, 1,*.but-that .when either of the shoes .5i-9 cngge an irregularity or 'obstruction, A-such fas the rock E| 0|of1 ig..2, theccantileverxbars42 andthe entiremechanism Acarried-thereby will-he tilted on theaXesof-pivots 41%,. inthe manner'illuetrated by full, lines `in lliig. .2, wherein :f it will be f noted that r,the vsaddles 49 @aref retracted 'out-iof engage- :drum 3 mand, into operative rdriving @engagement with the ranger shaft fli. ,'Infothcrwords, the stop `68 lis :smarranged anclnpositicnodztliat the elevating mechanism for the boring head millebe rcnderediincperativezand :i thev auger i renderedy opcratifvencoincidental .witll engagement ofthe-.latch detent 58 of llatchbar' Ywith v4the: latch pin dit. The :stop f'pin i3 9, :on `,the i 'other E cleterno-iiies theidepthwof theihole'to flieliored or1iiiledd3y the. anger, and is adiustablypositioned 'oy n selec-- tion=^f1the -prcper hole to the end portion olilthey shifter lever @4l-when -thefauger has 'horcd to fthe ydesired depth, l'and vth-is time interrupts A'do'efnwarol movement L'of "the shifter 2lever fiiii cand causes Jthe 'slid-ing clutch element "3 3 to "bei shifted out A of `driving #engagement with @the auger Jand into Tdriving engagementfwithithe `rWinrliiigfdrum 3| tin-thereby ren- 7 der the elevating mechanism operative'to retract the auger from the bore. V

For the purpose of maintaining the' shifter lever 84 against accidental displacementfrom either of its operative positions, I provide' yielding retaining mechanism (see particularly Figs. 3, 4, and 9) comprising a spring pressed plunger |0| and a cooperating double-faced cam |02. The plunger is slidably mounted in brackets |03 on the shifter arm 84 and is subject to the yielding pressure of a compression spring |04 compressed between one of the said brackets |03 and a pin-retained washer |05 on the plunger |0I. The projected end of the plunger is equipped with a roller |06 (see particularly Figs. 3, 4,' 8, and 9) for cooperation with the cam |02, which cam |02 is anchored fast to bearing sleeve 38 of the boring head. The two-faced cam |02 is so orientated that its apex or toe portion, from which it tapers in opposite directions toward the bearing sleeve 39, will be engaged by the roller |06 when the sliding clutch element 33 is in its intermediate position and so that its lower face will be engaged by the spring pressed roller |06 when the shifter arm 84 is in its lower position, and the upper tapered face thereof will be engaged by the spring pressed roller |06 when the shifter arm 84 is in its upper position. Obviously, with this arrangement the shifter lever will always be maintained under yielding pressure to remain in its last set operative position.

Now, because it is sometimes desirable to cause the auger to be retracted before it reaches the predetermined depth, I provide, in addition to the above described automatic control of the sliding clutch element 33, for manual operation of said sliding clutch element in the following manner: The bell crank 8| on the rock shaft 'I4 has pivotally connected to its outer end a depending rigid link |01 (see particularly Figs. 6, 7, and 8) the lower end portion of which works slidably through a flange |08 on the shifter lever 84 and is provided below said iiange with an adjustable head in the nature of a pair of screwthreaded nuts |09. With this arrangement, when it be desired to stop rotation of the auger and start retraction thereof at any time during its downward travel but before the lower stop 09 becomes effective, the operator may ac complish this result by merely rotating the handle 19, rock shaft 14, and bell crank 8| in a direction opposite that required to trip the latch bar 68 and operate the brake cam 80. This will lift .the link |07 to bring the adjustable head |09 thereof into operative engagement with flange |08, and thereafter move the shifter lever 84 and clutch element 33 suiciently to release said clutch element 33 from driving engagement with the auger shaft and bring the same into driving engagement with drum 3| of the retracting mechanism.

Although the boring mechanism, including the mounting elements therefor, is inherently quite rigid, there is, nevertheless, a tendency to produce a lateral wobbling action of the entire mechanism during the boring operation and particularly during the initial portion of this operation, and which is particularly noticeable when the boring mechanism is applied to a pneumatic tireequipped tractor such as is shown in the accompanying drawings. In accordance with the present invention, however, this objectionable tendency to wobble and thereby producefunnecessary strains and stresses on the boring mechanism is controlled, and resultant wobble elimi- 8 nated, `by a stabilizing mechanismfheretofore briefly mentioned v'and which, in its preferred embodiment illustrated, comprises spring pressed stabilizer rods l0. These stabilizer rods ||0 eX- tend one in laterally spaced parallel relation to the guide post or leg 40 and the lother in laterally spaced parallel relation to the guide post or. leg 4| and have their upper portions longitudinally slidably mounted in bearing anges and their lower portions slidably mounted in bearing brackets ||2. The stabilizer rods ||0 are yieldingly biased in a downward direction by coil compression springs |3 compressed between the bearing flanges of the guide frame legs and flanges ||4 on the stabilizer rods H0. yThe lower ends of the stabilizer rods H0 are preferably, but not essentially, provided with pointed arrow-like heads ||5 that are adapted to be pressed into the ground Y on opposite sides of the auger and the hole or bore Y drilled thereby. When the stabilizer rods H0 are released, they will be spring pressed into the ground Y substantially as shown in Fig. 4 or to a maximum depth determined by engagement of heads |||p` on the upper ends of the stabilizer rods i |0 with the flanges However, during the final upward retracting movements of the boring head, the stabilizer rods |0 will be automatically retracted against the yielding action of the springs 3 by engagement of the roller-equipped ends of spring pressed plungers i8 with the under sides of stabilizer arm-carried anges ||4 to the fully retracted positions of Fig. 3. vThe said plungers I8 are each slidably mounted in a pair of flanges |I9 carried lby and projecting from a guide sleeve 38 or 39. The plungers ||8 are spring pressed in the directions of their respective cooperating guide rods I0, so that the rollers |1 thereof are maintained, or at all times tightly pressed against their respective rods i0, and underlie the flanges ||4. By reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 7, it will be seen that the guide rods ||0 are provided below, but in closely spaced relation to, the flanges ||4 with detents |28 which provide roller-receiving notches therebetween and the flanges I4 and which, detents |20, function in cooperation with the spring pressed rollerequipped plungers H8 to apply definite predetermined downward pressures to their respective stabilizer rods ||0 when said stabilizer rods come into engagement with the ground during downward movements of the boring head. In this respect, it will be seen .that the stabilizer rods ||0 will follow the spring pressed plungers downwardly with the boringhead through the combined yielding action of gravity and the springs ||3 until the ends I5 of the stabilizer rods meet the resistance of the ground, after which the roller-equipped ends of the plungers H8 will tend to move away from the flanges H4, but will meet the resistance of the detents |20, which will be sufficient to sink the ends H5 of the stabilizer rods somewhat deeper into the ground than was accomplished by the springs and gravity. Of course, when the resistance to downward movements of the stabilizer rods builds up to a predetermined value, the roller-equipped ends of the plungers ||8 will ride over the detents |20 and follow down the stabilizer rods with the boring head without subjecting the stabilizer rods to any furthervappreciable downward force.

Rsum of operation FOI the purposes of transporting and spotting the auger, the parts will be positioned asshown 9E? in' Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 7', Wl'lereinv it willlb'einoted' that` the boring head1 andi upper stabilizer-L rod are inV their. fully retracted. positionsz andi the sliding clutchA elementl i3? islin` driv-ingfengage ment with the auger shaft.` I3.l andiisaunooupled from the winding drum' 3i; thelo'oring hea'db'eing locked in this upperpos-itionrbyIv engagementlfof detent '8/ or" latch bartwithdatehfpini'ifi For the purpose of this case, it may beassumed'lthat the power talze-oi"r"shaf'tfv t is-ioii the? continuously operating variety, sothat^the auger wiliibef op# eratively coupled'to the tractor engiifrefA whenever the' auger shaft I3 'is engaged byf theoluteli" el'e ment' 33. With the partsfpositionedfor trans; portation as in the-gures'last noted; it'will 1de seen that the shoes 99 are spaeed from"` ground, but, nevertheless; projectbelow the'lower ends II5 of the retracted'stabilizerrods4 I lili-and below the pilot end" IEP-ofthe-angenslfiaftT i3. If, as heretofore pointed out; during'transpertation of the mechanism, thel shoes l 99* engage-a'serious irregularity or obstruction; the' said"slioes-`9tiwi11 ride lfreely thereover, raising the free-endoffthe auger frame and causingl th'ecantilever-v barsii to partake of pivotal 'rnovenlentsonthe pivots 44, and asV soon as the' obstruction is lpassed the parts will returnv to their normal' positions" of Fig. 1, all as bestshown in Fig; 2'; Assoon' as the auger is'properly spotted, theftractor opera-tor will usually occupy the seat' I iloffthe tractor and may set the mechanism inoperation'by-irnparting a slight counterelockwise movement (in`- re= spect to Fig. '7) to the operatingshaft 'Ii through the vmedium of its handle 79 suiioient-- to" release the latch detent 58 from latchl pinjithrough action of' cam` 12'; `Ul'oon-releasii'ig' ofthe latch; the boring head will drop, underttheaction-` oi gravity to vbring the augerl pilot'l 15" intov engagement with the ground,v thereby starting`theloor= ing operation. During thi'sinitial droppingfoi the boringhead'fromits fully retraote'dtposition to a point of initial engagement of'; the auger with the ground, the" ends-I i5' of4v the stabilizer rods IIB-will be forced intorthe ground'in'the manner heretofore described andwilllanchorthe mechanism against lateral Wobbling movements during the entire boring operationvand'durin'g the major part of the initial augerretracting cycle.v OI course, if'itheoperatorwishesto' re; tard the rateof'fall ofthe auger"fom its'fully retracted-position tothe ground",V or 'if'hewish'es to retard therate of"lo'ori1'1gspeed',y he maydo so by imparting a slight additional counterclock; wise movement to` operating shaft'l'l' to' bring the brake cam 'into frictional braking action with the guide leg 4I; Thishraking; action" is particularly important in'.certain typesrozsoil,` such as heavy clay, wherelth" auger: may tend to screw itself into tlieearth'without"lifting=;.the same. Ordinarily, ,the' looring` operation will.' be permittedv to continue until the predetermined depth of-l bore isv obtained, and at which tir'nei the free end 'of the shifterarm 84 comes into contact with stop pin 8,- causing` the" sliding clutch element 33 tol bemovedout of driving engagement with the auger shaftf i3 andinto driving. engagement with theH winding drum'i 3l of the lifting mechanism, thereby stoppngftlie auger and'startingthe retracting operation.v At thispoint, the parts willfbe positioned asshown best Vin Fig. 4, inA which the cable Si?"A is# largely wound lofi. of i the drum i 3.1 Withl the drum new operating in a'. windings. direction;v the4` cable` 59 will fbe wound .spirailyy thereon; thereby f retract; ingthe-:augerg' loack-y toits.ifully."retracted :position I0 ofi Figs. 1.. and..J 3; Wh'ereit't. wille be: aut'omati'callyl retainedby engagementlofllatoh detentr 585 with latch `pin.: l' il in 1 the mannen heretofore described. Approirinlately.` eoineide'antally` with'. the. engag mentio latch.\detent' 585' Witlrlatchipin'i'lithe free end portioni 8.1L- of." the` shifteri4 lever! Sdi will engagelfthe upper: stop 88?.' and cause th'els-liding clutel'iA elementi: to i loeflv moved? out of operative engagementwith thelWindingfdrum 3.1i andi back intox` operativa engagementL with the auger. shaft I3: Of course,duringzthebabove notedzretrac; tion of tlieaugerf, Vthe fstabilizerrrodsl II 02 will have beenka'uto'rnatioallyire-tractedlinltlfie mannerheref tofore` described'Ik andk the". severa'l parts ofi the rnachinev will l nowi have* been automatically;` reset forl thei neit-tfl subsequent# borin'goperation' As also'. heretofore'. pointed out-g itt may-f sometimes bev desirable tostop the'. boringl operation'A and startretractionzof the "auger-1 before thesaugerh'as reachedi the: predetermined depth; and;- tliisemayv readilyf be accomplished?. by merely turning `the operating;V shaft 'HY inl a -vclclnclwise-r direetion'- with respeoti-toifi'gz .71' su'oent :to rnovefthe'v shiftaole clutchi element?- 335 out=1 oi'`` operative' engagement with the augerl'shaft andinto operative enga-gementtwith the winding` drum; thisbeing acoom+ plished through linkage 'comprisingthe-bellcranl SI; linkf |01, linkfhead Iillt'i and shifter" arm flange` wir? Of course', the depth of'-4 boreisY adjusta-ldly variableb'y shifting thel stop lpin' I 89'* intodifferent holes 93? of 'bracket 9`I What I claimr is:

l; inv an earth boring= machine; a supporting structure, a unitary boring@ lieadl'comprising" a dow-nwardlyextending 'auger and power' operated means f for rotating the* auger; means mounting andguiding theunitary-boringh'ead onthesup: porting structureA for upward and downward movements*A on'A` the; supportinga structure axially off the a-ugerr, normally inoperativef power" oper: atedi boringheadI retractingL meclianism'- operativelyv connected'with the'A boring headl and-sup; porting'v structure,` said` b'oririg"A head retracting mechanism compris-ingl means connectible with retraetingl mechanism and disconnectibi'e" from sa-idpower operatedmeans t'o render' said re` tra'cting* mechanism* inoperative," means on` said supporting-structurerengageable'withtlie"retract; ingl mechanism'WheWthe'bOring head 'reaches'its loweredposition to operatively" connect" said retracting meclianismi with` the power" operated means forV operating" the" retr'aoting.. mechanism to move theboring 'head' to' its retracted position, means on" the'` supporting` structure for' discon necting. thev retracting" mechanism' from" the powerV operatedmeans" when ther boring head reaches itsretracted position' and" manually releasablelatclimechanism'comprising.cooperating latch' elementson' tl'iesupporting structure" and boringA head automatically enga'geabl'e when' the boring head rreaches-its 'retractedposition for re"- taining "the "boring head`- in its" retracted-position independent of" theIrv boring" lieadx mechanism 2. Th'eestructureidefinedlin claim 1', in'which the said manually operable --lateh tripping'A 'means comprisesaL cam* element; mounted* adjacent the relativelyA movableY latch element and? operative thereon to move`- tl'ie'sam'e against action" oftd it's yielding; means L to l trip 1 the"4 latch4 element", and manually oper-'ablez means forf rotating: said* canr.

3.1. The structurer d'en'eds in claim: l; vinl which thea said*` relatively' movable? latam elementi4 is' ni'ountedI ornandzzforrtravellingf movements. with l 1 the boring head, and in further combination with manually operable latch releasing mechanism comprising a manually operable cam also mounted on and for travelling movements with the boring head and positioned to engage the movable latch element and trip the same.

4. In an earth boring machine, a supporting structure, a unitary boring head comprising a ldownwardly extending auger and power means for rotating the auger, means on the supporting structure for guiding the boring head for upward and downward movements axially of the auger, power operated means for retracting the boring head from a lowered boring position to an elevated retracted position, and automatically engageable manually releasable latch mechanism for engaging and retaining the boring head when in its retracted position, said latch mechanism comprising cooperating latch elements on the supporting structure and the boring head.

5. In an earth boring machine, a supporting structure, a unitary boring head comprising a downwardly extending auger and power operated means for rotating the auger, means mounting and guiding the unitary boring head on the supporting structure for upward and downward movements on the supporting structure axially of the auger, normally inoperative power operated boring head retracting mechanism operatively connected with the boring head and supporting structure, said boring head retracting mechanism comprising means connectible with said power operated means for operating said retracting mechanism and disconnectible from said power operated means to render said retracting mechanism inoperative, means on said supporting structure engageable with the retracting mechanism when the boring head reaches its lowered position to operatively connect said retracting mechanism with the power operated means for operating the retracting mechanism to move the boring head to its retracted position, means on the supporting structure for disconnecting the retracting mechanism from the power operated means when the boring head reaches its retracted position, and automatically engageable manually releasable latch mechanism retaining the boring head in its retracted position independent of the boring head retracting mechanism, the said latch mechanism comprising cooperating relatively iixed and relatively movable latch elements mounted one on the supporting structure and the other for travelling movements with the boring head, yielding means biasing the said relatively movable latch element in a direction of operative engagement with its cooperating relatively fixed latch element, and manually operable means for tripping the movable latch element.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 in further combination with automatically engageable manually releasable latch means retaining the boring head in its elevated position independently of the elevating mechanism, said latch mechanism comprising cooperating latch elements on the supporting structure and boring head.

7. In an earth-boring machine, a supporting structure having upwardly and downwardly directed guide means, a unitary boring head mounted for sliding movements-on the upwardly and downwardly directed guide means of the supporting structure and comprising a downwardly extended auger and power operated means for rotating the auger, normally inoperative power operated mechanism operatively 'as- 12 sociatedwith the supporting structure andboring head for retracting the auger, means operatively associated with the retracting mechanism for rendering same operative when the boring head reaches a predetermined lowered position to move the boring head from said lowered position to its retracted position, means operatively associated with the retracting mechanism for rendering same inoperative when the boring head has reached its retracted position, a fixed latch element carried by the supporting structure, a cooperating retractable latch element movably mounted on the boring head, yielding means biasing the said retractable latch element in a direction of operative engagement with the cooperating relatively fixed latch element, a manually operable rock shaft mounted on the boring head, a cam element fast on the rock shaft and operative on the movable latch element to move and trip the same, and a brake element also mounted fast on the rock shaft and engageable under rotation of the rock shaft with the` guide means of the supporting structure to retard downward movements of the boring head, the said elements being so relatively orientated upon the rock shaft that same will move successively into operative positions by a continued unidirectional movement of the rock shaft and the said elements being angularly disposed relative to the axis of the rock shaft whereby the first noted element will trip the latch before the second noted element is brought into braking engagement with the guide means.

8. The structure defined in claim 7 in further combination with an operating element on the supporting structure and operating connections therefrom to said rock shaft.

9. In an earth-boring machine, a supporting structure having upwardly and downwardly directed guide means, a boring head mounted for sliding movements on said guide means; said boring head being a unitary structure and including a power-driven shaft, a depending power operated auger supported by said shaft, a winding drum journalled for rotation about said shaft, and clutch means rotatable with said shaft and slidable thereon for selectively coupling the winding drum to the power operated shaft; an elevating mechanism for the vboring head which includes the said winding drum of the boring head, and cooperating engageable devices carried by the boring head and supporting structure respectively for automatically shifting said clutch means into winding drum driving position when the boring head reaches a predetermined lower position and automatically shifting said clutch means out of winding drum driving position when the boring head reaches'a predetermined elevated position.

10. The structure defined in claim 9 in further combination with automatically engageable manually releasable latch mechanism retaining said boring head in its elevated position independently of the boring head elevating mechanism, said latch mechanism comprising cooperating latch elements mounted one on the supporting structure and the other on the boring head.

11. In an earth-boring machine, asupporting structure having upwardly and downwardly directed guide means, a boring head mounted for up and down sliding movements on said guide means; said boring head comprising a power ro'- tated shaft, a depending power-driven auger freelyxjournalled on said shaft, a'windingI drum 'aes-asse coaxial of and journalled' on'said shaft for rotation independentlyy thereof, and cooperating shiftable and non-shiftable clutch f elements carried vone by the-winding drumandI the other by said power operatedshaft for selectively coupling said winding drum to saidshaftfor rotation therewith; power operated'- boring head retracting mechanism comprising said` winding drum and cable means anchored thereto for winding thereon and reacting on'the supporting structure; automatic shifting mechanism for4 said shiftable lclutch element'comprising'a boring head-carried shifter element. and cooperating lower and upper stops on' the supporting structure, said lower stop being positioned and arranged to be engaged by the boring head-carried shifter element to move saidshifter element into operative engagement with itScOOperating-nonshiftable clutch element to -render the retracting mechanism operative when the boring head reaches a predetermined-lowered position, said upper stop being positionedand arrangedito'be engaged by saidlboring headLcarried shifterY element to move the sitiiitableclutchY element out of operative engagementl with its cooperating non-shiftable clutch elementvv when the boring headlreaches a predetermined-elevated position; and cooperating means on the supporting struc-v ture and boring head for retaining said-boring headl in' its elevated position independently oi the retracting mechanism.

12. In an earth boring machine, a-supporting structure having upwardlyfanddownwardly directed yguide means, a unitary boring head Astructure mounted for up and down sliding movements on saidguide means; said-unitaryv boring head structure comprising a power rotated shaft, a depending power driven auger rotatably journailed on said shaft, a cable winding drum disposed coaxially of and/rotatably journalled on said power driven shaft, cooperating shiftable and non-shiftable clutch-elements, carriedv one by the cable winding drum and the -other'bysaid power operated shaft for selectively `coupling vsaid drum to and uncoupling same from said' shaft; power operated boring head retracting mechanism includingl said winding drum and-a'r cable having one end thereof secured tov saidfdrumfor winding thereon, idler means on thefsupporting structure engaging said cable; the other end of said cable being securedv to saidfboring head structure, automatic shifting mechanism for said shiftable clutch element comprising a shifter lever pivoted on the boring head structure and operatively engaged with the shiftable clutch element, and upper and lower stop means on the supporting structure successively engageable by saidshifter lever for engagementof the clutch elements when the boring head is in'a predetermined lower position and for disengagement of the clutch elements when the boring head is in an upper retracted position.

13. In an earth boring machine, a supporting structure havingupwardly; and downwardly. directed guide means,v a unitary boring head mounted for up and down sliding movements on said guide means; said unitary boring heady com.

prising a depending power rotated shaft, a, depending auger co-axial with androtatably journalled on said power rotated shaft, a cable windn ing drum co-axial of and journalled, on said shaitifor rotation relative thereto, clutch means for selectively and independently. coupli'ngthe auger and" drum' to saidpower rotated' shaft; said clutch means including a shiftable clutch elementv supportedY on said shaft-1 for rotation therewith and for axialsliding movementf there; on and co-operating 4clutch elements onthe drum and auger, meansfor automatically shifting the shiftable clutch element into drivingrengagement with the clutch elements onthe winding drum for rotation thereof withl the' shaft" when the boring head reaches' a` predetermined lowered position and for automatically shifting the shiftable clutch element' into driving engagement with-the clutch elements onfthe-auger iorl'rotation thereof when the boring head reachest a predeterminedV elevated position, said last vnamed meanscomprising a shifter element mounted for travel with and operatively coupled'to the shift-L ableclutch element, cooperating upper and lower stops carried by the supportingstructure andbeing inthe pathofmovementof 'saidshifter ele`` ment and engaging same at the upper andilower positions of the boring head; and boring head1 res tractingmechanism includingA saidA drum and-' a cable having one endthereof anclim'edA to: said drum for winding thereon upon rotation of? the drum, the cable passing over idler meansionithe supporting structure and having its opposite end anchored to said'boring head. i

le; In an earth-boring'machine; the combi# nation with asupportingy structure, a unitary boring head comprising a'. power-driven'. shaft and a depending rotary power-driven auger, and cooperating guide means on the supporting structure and boring" head guiding the' boring head for upward and downward" movements axially of the auger, of an auger elevating-mechanism comprising a cable windingdrum-y carried by and journalled on said shaft, a cable anchored to and wound upon the winding drumfandlex; tending therefrom tothe supporting structure at apoint above the w-indingdrum; and'V power transmission means adaptedto operatively couple the winding drum to thesaid power-driven shaft of the boring head, said power transmission means being carried by theboring head and com'e prising cooperating drive elements mounted: on the shaft one of which is mounted'for shifting movements into and out of operative engage-l ment withv the-other thereof; andl means for automatically shifting the saidfshiftable drive element comprising an operating 'element for the shiftable drive element carried by the boring head and spaced'stops on the r-,upporting-struc' ture successively engageable with saidoperating element-upon movement of said boring-headto predetermined upper and lower" positionsv to respectively disconnect and connect said'V drive elements.

15. In an earth-boring machine, al vehicle-y carried supporting l'structure having upwardly and downwardly directed guide means; anaugera equipped boring headmounted forupjanddown travelling movements on'v the.. guide meansofthe supporting structure, power operated means-for elevating theboring head, and automatically extensible rand vcontractible, means for stabilizing the boring. head structure against lateralwohf bling movements during bofing. operationssaid stabilizing means comprising a downwardly.

biased stabilizing device mounted on the sup porting structure for limitedup anddown moves ments with respect thereto and having ,a ground engaging, lower end portion, cooperating. eleT ments mounted forv movements one .with the bor.- ingheadand the other withthe stabilizingdcivice, the one inthe path. of Vtravelof.thedother and positioned'to come 'into engagement during ,15 l nal retracting movements of the boring head and cause retraction of the stabilizing device with the boring head during such final retracting movements of the boring head and to become disengaged and permit extension of the downwardly biased stabilizing device into operative engagement with the ground during initial downward movements of the boring head.

16. The structure defined in claim 15, in which the ground engaged lower end of the stabilizing device is pointed to permit insertion into the ground.

17. The structure dened in claim 15, in which the said stabilizing means is duplicated at opposite sides of the auger-equipped boring head.

18. In an earth-boring machine, a vehiclecarried supporting structure having upwardly and downwardly directed guide means, an augerequipped boring head mounted for up and down travelling movements on said guide means, power operated means for elevating the boring head, and means for automatically stabilizing the boring head supporting structure against lateral wobbling movements, said stabilizing means comprising a stabilizing device having a ground engaging lower end and mounted` on the support ing structure for limited up and down movements with respect thereto, yielding means biasing the stabilizing device in a downward ground engaging direction, and cooperating elements mounted for movements one with the boring head and the other with the stabilizing device and constructed and arranged to automatically come into engagement and retract the downwardly biased stabilizing device during upward movements of the boring head and to become disengaged and permit extension of the stabilizing device into operative engagement with the ground under the action of its biasing ymeans during downward movements of the boring head.

19. The structure defined in claim 18, in which the ground engaging lower end of the stabilizing device is pointed to permit insertion into the ground.

20. In an earth-boring machine, a vehiclecarried supporting structure having upwardly and downwardly directed guide means, an augerequipped boring head mounted for up and down travelling movements on said guide means, power operated means for elevating the boring head, a stabilizing device carried by the boring head and mounted for limited up and down reciprocating movements with respect thereto and having a ground engaging lower end portion, and means automatically extending said stabilizing device in a ground engaging direction during downward movements of the boring head and automatically retracting the same to inoperative position during retracting movements of the boring head, said last named means comprising a cam detent element and a cooperating yieldingly biased element, one of said elements being carried by the boring head and the other by the stabilizing device, said yieldingly biased element being mounted for movements into and out of the path of travel of the cam-acting element and being biased in the direction of the path of travel of the last said element.

21. In an earth-boring machine, a vehiclecarried supporting structure having upwardly and downwardly directed guide means, an augerequipped boring head mounted for up and down travelling movements on said guide means, power operated means for elevating the boring head, a stabilizing device carried by the boring head 16 and mounted for limited up and jdown reciprocating movements with respect thereto andv having a ground engaging lower end portion, means automatically extending saidy stabilizing device in a ground engaging direction during downward movements of the boringA head and automatically retracting the same to inoperative position during retracting movements of the boringhead, said last named means comprising a cam detent element and a cooperating yieldingly biased element, one of said elements being carried by the boring head and the other by the stabilizing device, said yieldingly biased element being mounted for movements into and out of the path of travel of the cam element and Abeing biased in the direction of the path of travel of the last said element, the biasing means for the stabilizing device exerting sufcient resistance to retracting movements of the stabilizing device to overcome the resistance of the cam element o n its cooperating yieldingly biased element during retracting movements of the, boring head,Y and means positioned to engage the yieldingly biased element during final retracting movements of the boring head and after said yieldingly Vbiased element has passed over its cooperating cam element to impart positive retracting movements to the stabilizing device. I

22. The structure defined in claim 21, in which the said cam element is rigidly carried by the stabilizing device and its cooperating yieldingly biased element is mounted for common umovements with the boring head.

23. In a portable earth boring machine, ya wheel-equipped vehicle having a rear axle housing, a rigid substantially horizontal supporting member pivoted intermediate its ends to the rear end portion of the vehicle for upward and downward movements of its rear end lportion and extending both forwardly and rearwardly of its pivotal connection, a saddle carried by the forwardly-projecting` end portion of said rigid supporting member and engaging an under-surface of the vehicle rear axle housing structure to limit downward movements of the rearwardlyextending end portionv of the' rigid supporting member to a generally horizontal position but allowing upward movements of said rearwardly' extending end portion, an auger-equipped boring head mounted on the rearwardly-extending portion of said supporting member, the boring head being supported out of lcontact with level ground by said rigid supporting member for transportation purposes.A

l24. The structure dened in claim 23 inY further combination with ground-engaging shoes carried by the rearwardly-projected end portion of the pivotedl supporting member, said shoes extending below the plane of the bottom of the auger but being spaced above the plane of level of the ground supporting the vehicle.

'GLEN H. JONES.

References cited in the nie of this patent UNITED .STATES PATENTS Richards Apr. 18, 1947 

